Lockport, NY
Lockport is located only about a half hours drive east of Niagara Falls. It is situated on the Erie Canal and is the location of the last (first depending on direction) set of locks on the Erie Canal. There are two locks now (34& 35) where there used to be five to raise or lower canal travelers 100 feet on their journey.
Historically this spot could take two or three days to traverse because of the backlog of traffic. People spending time here spent money. As a center of commerce this area became quite wealthy. The local Presbyterian Church benefited from local benefactors. The result was a fine church decorated with stained glass windows done by Tiffany. These are not your usual cut glass windows. The glass is stained and textured amazingly. Texture, depth of field, shading, facial and postural features are all incorporated in the glass. Definitely NOT you typical lamp shade glass.
This only one of twenty plus windows.
We found another religious song origin here.“This is My Father’s World” was written by a pastor of this church. Cool.
Fifteen Miles On the Erie Canal
We took a two hour boat tour on the canal. Up through locks 34 & 35(last or first depending on direction), under the widest bridge in North America, under a bridge that raises horizontally (as opposed to tilting), back down through the locks, more canal, etc. Traversing the canal is actually pretty cheap. Traveling the length of the canal (over 350 miles) through all the locks would cost about $100. If no motor, no charge at all.
Original five locks used to make this elevation change. No longer in use. Replaced by two much larger locks located just to the left of picture.
Sitting in lock #35 – last lock on the Erie Canal. Concrete wall in front is level of Lake Erie. Water will raise to allow boats to clear this level. Twelve feet plus depth clearance. Entire process through both locks takes less than twenty minutes.
Headed down stream canal. Level lowered and gates opening.
Bridge raises horizontally. Note towers on each end so pedestrians can cross when bridge raised.
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